The Storyteller's Daughter

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Book: The Storyteller's Daughter Read Online Free PDF
Author: Maria Goodin
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giggling anymore. Instead, she was touching her hair nervously and looking around for an escape, whilst my mother babbled on and on, clearly enjoying herself for the first time all evening, waving her arms around as she told some longwinded story about Doctor McFee’s choice of savoury snack, complete with pig-like sound effects.
    Out of the corner of my eye I noticed that Mark, too, kept glancing over at my mother, and he appeared to be getting edgy on my behalf. He had only met my mother once, but it was obviously enough for him to foresee a potentially embarrassing incident occurring. He had suggested not telling her about the prize-giving at all, or telling her that parents weren’t invited, or even that I just didn’t want her there.
    â€˜You need to be careful, Meg,’ he had told me, ‘you don’t want to give the wrong impression. Not now. These people could hold the key to your future. They’re the ones who will support research applications, help get papers published, open doors for you. I can understand why you might not want your mother there – ’
    â€˜But of course I want her there,’ I had told him, feeling slightly insulted. ‘I would never consider not inviting her.’
    And I did want her there. Desperately. Because for as far back as I could remember everything she had ever done she had done for me, and I knew that without her support I would never have even made it to university. She had worked tirelessly all her life so I wouldn’t go without. She had praised me for every achievement, and supported me in every choice. Even though she couldn’t understand what on earth I was studying, she thought it was wonderful that I was so interested in it. So there was no way I wouldn’t allow her to be here to share my special moment.
    But as I watched her excitedly enacting some fantastical story, completely oblivious to the fact that Doctor McFee was slowly backing away, a sense of panic rose in my chest. I recalled the sense of exclusion I had always felt at school, the whispers I overheard, the rumours that followed me around. I had worked so hard to fit in here. I was respected. I was liked. Finally I was taken seriously.
    â€˜So, have any of your family come tonight, Meg?’ asked Professor Winter, looking around.
    I felt panic surging in my chest. I didn’t want to lose what I had built for myself. I didn’t want to be a laughing stock. Not again.
    I felt Mark’s hand squeezing my shoulder, willing me to make the right choice.
    â€˜No,’ I said, quietly, swallowing down my guilt.
    I felt sick with shame.
    Mark’s grip loosened and he stroked my shoulder gently. I had done the right thing.
    â€˜None of my family could make it.’

Chapter 3
    I can’t hide my shock when my mother meets me off the train. She’s so thin and pale, a shadow of her former flame-haired, curvaceous self. She is wearing a jumper, even though it’s the height of Summer, and when we hug I can feel the sharp angles of her elbows and shoulder blades through the material. It makes me want to cry. Did she look anywhere near this bad last time I saw her? Could she have changed so much so quickly?
    â€œMeggy!” she squeals, ignoring the look of horror on my face. She doesn’t want me to say anything about her appearance, doesn’t even want me to acknowledge that she’s wasting away. But I’m not like my mother. I’m not a fantasist.
    â€œMy God, you look dreadful!”
    She forces a little laugh and brushes some flour off her sleeve.
    â€œOh, I know! I was baking a treacle tart and I suddenly realised what the time was.”
    â€œMother, you should have stayed at home!” I snap, annoyed at her, “I could have got the bus.”
    â€œDon’t be silly, darling. Why would you do that?”
    â€œBecause you look like you should be in bed!”
    â€œI’ve made lasagne for dinner. Is that all
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